COLAIANNI PIANO
& Music Ventures since 1921
| Tips on Buying a Piano |
7509 Cantrell Road
(Tanglewood Shopping Center)
Little Rock, AR 72207
(Tanglewood Shopping Center)
Little Rock, AR 72207
Tel: 501.603.9988 800.313.7033
- Buying a piano is usually not something that is purchased without a specific need or use. New and used pianos from
Colaianni Piano are available in virtually all price ranges. Starting a child out with piano lessons might simply require the
purchase of an inexpensive 'vertical' until they show a talent and desire to continue learning. However, a professional
musician or concert pianist may look towards purchasing a higher quality upright or grand piano of better quality, touch
and sound, and of course, more expensive. All pianos can be traded 'up' with Colaianni Piano as a need arises.
- Inspection Check List for Acoustic Pianos
The Back: The posts should be heavy and strong enough to provide adequate support in proportion to the rest of the piano.
The Soundboard: A wooden board at the back of the instrument which translates the vibrations of the strings into the
"tone" of the piano. The soundboard is one of the vital parts of the piano. Plate: An irregularly-shaped piece of cast iron bolted
to the back of the frame. It holds one end of the piano strings, and anchors most of the twenty tons of pull exerted by the taut
strings. Treble and bass bridges: Another of the piano's vital organs. These long pieces of hard maple are attached to
the soundboard, transferring to it the vibrations of the strings. Piano hammers are formed of one or two layers of felt forged
onto a wooden hammer molding under tremendous pressure. The working section of the piano is called the action. There
are about 7,500 parts here, all playing a role in sending the hammers against the strings when keys are struck. The piano
keys rest in the key bed, a perfectly flat well in the front of the cabinet that keeps the keys level. Each key is balanced by a center
pin, and "bushed" with fine wool for silence and proper clearance. The "ivories" are not ivory anymore, but a fine molded plastic
that won't crack or turn yellow. The black keys are made of a similar material. Most pianos have three pedals, but most pianists
need only two. The sustaining pedal on the right lifts the dampers (which in a resting position prevent the strings from vibrating)
away from the strings so that the tone is sustained after the keys are released. The pedal on the left, called the damper, mutes
the tone by shortening the distance the hammers travel or by shifting the action slightly so fewer strings are hit. Many pianos have
a third pedal in the middle for sustaining bass tones only. On most grand pianos and some uprights, the third pedal is a
sostenuto, which sustains selected tones at the pianist's discretion. The cabinet is that handsome piece of furniture which
will take a prominent place in your decor. Modern cabinets are made of core stock overlaid with thin veneers of fine furniture
wood. Many grains and finishes are available and modern finishing techniques assure excellent appearance and easy care for
years.
| Piano buyers who seek the advice of reputable professionals will help to assure themselves that they have made the best purchase possible of an instrument that will provide years of musical enjoyment The piano purchase,whether new or pre-owned, should be a pleasant experience that enhances the excitement of piano ownership |